Door latch



1,662,907 c. s. sHlLLlNG Ix-:T AL l March zo, 192s,

DOOR LATCH Filed June 4. 1925 SNN',

wma/wf@ Patented Mar. 20, 1928. `i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. c

VCAlitl'a S. SHILLING AND DUFFEY IB. LOUZON, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Doon LATCH.

Application iled `June 4,

Our invention relates to improvementsin securing devices for doors and has particular reference to a combined door latch and securing means therefor'.k i

One object of the invention is to provide a new andimproved combination securing device for doors comprising a latch mechanism and a. plurality of differently actuated means for locking said mechanism in latched position.

Another object is to provide a novel securing means for a door latch associated with the latch keeper.

A further object of the invention is to provide av door latch ofsimple and inexpensive construction including a pair of latch bars pivoted on the door and a novel means forprojecting a securing member into the space between said bars to securey them against disengagement with the latch keeper when the door is in closed position.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed desrcription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a rear elevational viewv of a door latch and two securing mechanisms therefor embodying the features of our invention. Y

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along,` the line 2 2 of Figure '1. 'i i' Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 1 and showing the latch attached to a door. y

Fig. e is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 1 and showing one securing means for the latch mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentarysection taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 1 showing Vanother securing means for the latch mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View along the line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Fig. 7 is a front elevat-ion of thelatch keeper and a portion of the latch mechanism shown yin Figure 1. f

'Fig 8 is a side elevation ofthe keeper attached to a door frame.

Figs. 9 and 10 are sections taken approximately along the line 9 9 of lFig.,8 showing parts of a third securing mechanism'for the latch in unlatched and latched `positions respectively. v

Figs. 11 vand 12 show certain parts yof the latch.

While we have'shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred 1925. serial' No. 34,766.

embodiment ofthe invention, it is contemplated that various changes in construction and arrangement may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the mounted in asuitable casing 14 comprising a front wall 15 andside'walls 16. The casing may be secured to or mortised in aV swinging door 17 in any. suitable manner. In thepresent instance, itabuts against `a plate 17zt on the inner side of the door and is held in position by screws 18'entered through holes 19 in the front Wall of the casing. i f

The latch mechanism 13y best shown in Figure 1 comprises a pair oflatch bars '2O having overlapping inner ends which are pivotally supported by any suitable means, such as a pin 21'mounted in the casing. The outer ends of the latch'bars extend through a slot 21a in the end of the casing and project beyond the edge of the door. A sti y spring 22 coiled abouty the pin 21 and having its ends held in notches 22a in the' bars 20 tends to yieldingly press the bars apart.

Mounted on the door frame 23 in position to engage the outer ends of the latch bars when the door is closed .is a keeper 24 comprising a flat plate 25 having twoyforwfa-rd projections 26. The keeper maybe suitably secured to the door frame by screws 27ex` ktending through holes 27a in the plate 25.

At their forward ends the profections 26 are 'Y formed with opposed cam sur aces 28 which converge rearwardly and terminate at the `keeper lopening 29. y closed, the outer ends of the bars 20 `will be compressed together by the surfaces 28 and thereby guided into the opening .29.1 To pervmit the bars to spring apart after passing the opening 29, the projections 26 are formed with opposed recesses 30 providing 'shoulders 31 behind which the bars 20 catch and become latched when the door reaches its closed position (Fig. 7 i

To unlatch the door and permit it tov be opened from either the outside or the inside, a cam member 32 is arranged to release the Thus, as .the door is latch mechanism from thekeeper. In lthe*- present instance, .the cam member 32 consists of an elongated bar having its lmedial portion journaled in the casing at `34 (Fig.

6) and its ends 34 bent at right angles to the body portion so as to overlap the outerV edges of the latch bars 20. From Figure 1` spindle extending through a square hole 36 in the cam member and provided at eithe e of its endswith a door knob 37.

Three separate means operable from the i inside ot the door are provided for securing the latch mechanism in latched position.

y One otthese means shown particularly in Figs. 7 to 10 is associated With the kee'pselv 26' and comprises a lever 38 formed With aVWedge--shaped end 39 Whichmay be swung into the space between the outer ends of the barsQ() When the door is in closed position. The lever 38 is i'ulcrumed,intermediate its ends on a pin 40 extending between tvvo` lugs 41 o-n the plate 25. To swing the Wedgeshaped end 39 into and out oit securing position, the opposite end of the lever 38 is pivotally connected by a pin 40 to a push rod 42 projecting slidably through a plate 43 on the keeper. Ahead 44 provides a convenient means for operating the push rod. When the head is pushed inwardly, the end 39 of the lever Will be moved into the position shovvnin Fig. 10 and will prevent the latch .bars from being swung together by rotation of the cam 32. The bars may be unlatched by pulling the head 44. outwardly into fthe position shown in Fig. 9. A i

`Another means for securing the latch mechanism in latched position comprisesla block 45 positioned between (the` bars 20 and the inner Vside of the front casing wall. AiTl'ie block is adapted tobe moved perpendicular `to the barslQO. To this end, the block is mounted on a screw 46 extending through anopening 47 in the casing and having a knurled` knob 48 on its outer end. 49 is a clip encircling the screvs7 46 between a shoul-` der 5and the inner side of the casing wall to hold the screw against outward movement. To limit the movement oit the block toward the bars Vandto prevent rotation of the block 45 when thelscrew is turned, lateral arms 51 are formed on the block in posi-k tion to engage lugs o2 on the inner side of the casing Wall 15. Rectangular notches 52a preferably are formed 1n the latch bars 20 to receive the upper and lower edges ott the block. Assuming the latch mechanism to be in latched position7 rotation of the. knob 48 in one direction through several revolutions Will cause the block 45 to move along the screw into the space between the latch bars (Fig. 5) thereby securing them apart. To unlatch the bars, the knob is rotated .through` the same `number of` revolutions in ver 53 is mounted between the bars and the door so that its up er end may be moved toward and away* i' rom the bars. The lever 53 1s tulcrumed on a bolt 54 which conf nects a lateral arm 55 on the lever with a lug 56 integrally formed on the inner side of the casingvvall 15. At its upper end the lever 53 has a. short lateral" projection 56 which is adapted to enter a space between the bars 20 formed by two opposed notches 57. To swing the lever on its pivot pin, a caminember 59 having an inclined circular cam surface 6() is journaled in an opening 61 in the casing andis provided With ai f knurled knob' t3.` The lowerend of the lever 53 has an angular projection 64 which is yieldingly held againstihe cani surface 69 by a spring (55 coiled about the pivot bolt 54. One end ot the spring bears against the front Wall 15,and the other end: is held against a lateral arm 66 on the lever 53.( Assuming the latch mechanism to be in unlatched position (Figf), rotation ol" the knob 63 through one halt ol.I 'a revolutionl will cause the'lever to benioved into the position shown Ain Fig. 4 thereby bringing the projectionV 5G between the latch bars.

Unlatching oi' the latch mechanism is effect! ed` y the` spring 65 as the Acani is rotatedlin" the oppositel direction. p

It desired, suitable tumbler levers may be associated with the actuating devices for the latch securing means Within the casing `14 'so that the door may be unlatched from the e los outside in the usual Way. l l

From the foregoing-it will be seen that three independent mechanisms have been provided each being adapted to project a separatesecuring member transversely ot the latch bars" and into the4 space between them; In one of the mechanismsthe securing member is actuated by reciprocating the push rod42rin another by rotating the knobV 48 through several revolutions, and in a thirdby rotating thekn'ob 63 through one half of a revolution. The three mechanisms are thus ditlerently` actuated and constitute a combination latch which will ends projecting beyond one edge thereof, a

p preventv Y strangersfrom easily or quickly unlatching` keeper mounted on the door frame and having an opening to receive-said ends as the door 1s closed, resilient means for separating ksaid bars within the keeper, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its'ends on said keeper, and means connected to one end of Said lever for swinging the opposite end between the ends of said bars to secure them in the keeper.

2. A securing device comprising, in combination, a keeper adapted to be mounted on a door frame, a latch mechanism including a pair of bars adaptedl to be pivotally mounted on a door in position toengage said keeper as the door is closed, and a securing member pivotally mounted on said keeper and adapted to be swung into engagement with said bars to secure them in the keeper'.

3. A securing'device comprising, in combination with a door and adoor frame, a latch mechanism comprising a pair of bars pivotally mounted on the door, and means yieldingly holding said bars apart, a keeper ositioned on the door 'trame to receive said Ears in latching engagement as the door is closed, and a member on the door movable into and out of the space between saidbars to secure sai-d mechanism in latched position.

4. A securing device comprising, in coinbination with a swinging door and a door frame, a pair of latch bars pivotally mounted on the door, a keeper mounted on the door frame to engage said bars as the door is swung into closed position, a member adapted to be manually projected into the space between said bars to secure them in latched position, and means for moving said member.

5. A securing 'devicecomprising, in combination with a hinged door and a door frame, a pair of latch bars pivotally mounted on the door, a keeper mounted on the door frame to engage said bars as the door is swung into closed position, a member adapted to be moved transversely of and into the space between said bars to secure them in latched position, and screw means for moving said member. v

6. A securing device comprising, in combination with a hinged door and a door frame, a pair of latch bars pivotally mounted on the door, a keeper mounted on the door frame to engage said bars as the door is swung into closed position,a member adapted to be moved transversely of and into the space between the bars to secure them in latched position, and reciprocatory means for moving said member.

7. A securing device comprising, in combination with a door and a door frame, a pair of latch bars pivotally mounted on the door, a keeper mounted on the door frame to engage said bars as the door is moved into closed position, a member adapted to be moved transversely of and into the space bet-Ween the bars to secure them in latched position,and cam actuated means for movingsaid member.

8. A securing device having, in combination with a door and a door frame, a casing adapted to be secured to a door, a pair o bars having their inner ends pivoted on said casing and their outer ends projecting beyond the edge ot' said door, a keeper adapted to be mounted on a door frame in position to receive said outer ends in latchin engagement as the door is moved into c Osed position, a lever pivoted on said casing, and means for projecting one end of said lever into the space between said bars toy secure them in the keeper.

9. A securing device having, in combination, a casing adapted to be secured to a door, a pair of bars having their inner ends pivoted on the casing and their outer ends projecting beyond the 'edge of said door, a keeper adapted to be mounted on a door frame in position to receive said outer ends in latching engagement as the door is moved into vclosed position, a screw mounted on the casing and operable from the inner side of feo the door, and a block mounted on said screw and adapted to be moved into the space between said bars by rotation of the screw whereby to secure the bars in `.latched position.

10. A combination door latch comprising, in combination, a latch mechanism adapted to be mounted on a door, said mechanism including a pair of bars arranged for pivotal movement toward and away from each other, a keeper adapted to be mounted on a door frame in'position to engage said mechanism when the door is closed, a plurality of means each adapted to be moved into position between the bars of said latch mechanism for securing said mechanism in latched position, and diierently operable means for actuating each of said securing means.

11. A securing device comprising, in combination with a door and a door Vframe, a. latch mechanism onV the door, said mechanism including a pair of bars arranged for reciprocal movement toward each other, a keeper on the door frame adapted to engage said machanism when the door is closed, and al plurality of independent and differently operable means on said door and said kee er said means being movable into the space tween said bars for securing said mechanism in the keeper.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures. l

CARL S. 'SHILLINGR DUFFEY B. LOUZON. 

